Our child gets sick, and we naturally panic. We give the little one everything that we have heard from the ads on TV, from the girlfriend, from the doctor… So, the sick child with a runny nose, cough, and fever (the standard complaints) is given vitamin C, an immunostimulator, nasal drops, lozenges sore throat, cough syrup, anti-allergy medicine, fever medicine, often an antibiotic with a probiotic…
So far, 9 medications, not counting other folk medicine procedures such as compresses, inhalations, etc. Even on experienced mice, only one drug is tested, and we easily give our children 7-8 and more!
Polypharmacy (many medications at once) is the first mistake parents of a sick child make. The other major mistake is giving cough syrups, especially expectorants.
There is a consensus in the EU that mucolytics (expectorants) are not given until the age of 2, and in some countries, this limit has been raised to the age of 5. Expectorants do not reduce but increase coughing by liquefying secretions and theoretically facilitating the expulsion of sputum, which is good for bronchitis and pneumonia.
But in the vast majority of cases, our children suffer from upper respiratory tract infections; who needs to drown them in their own secretions? Coughing is a natural protective reflex, so the body expels viruses, bacteria, and chemical and physical irritants that have landed on the mucous membranes. If it does not make it difficult for the child to sleep, he can safely go with more liquids and teas.
Overdosing on nasal decongestants can be fatal, especially in young children with delicate, vulnerable mucous membranes. The latter thins out (atrophies) and is damaged for life. It is true that a runny nose is a big problem for a small child, he cannot breathe, he cannot sleep and he becomes irritable.
Try to help him breathe with saline nasal washes or homeopathic remedies, the latter are also available as drops to drink, but they unclog the nose. Standard unclogging drops are applied for no more than 3-4 days and then only when nothing else helps. The best nasal decongestant is fresh air.
Medicines to lower the temperature are also overdone. If it is high, yes, the child should not struggle. But many parents stuff their children with these drugs, which are not harmless, and at a low temperature, just above 37, and others even give them prophylactically! Antibiotics are also given without needing them with the excuse, “Because I’m very worried…” Well, drink your Lexotans, don’t poison the children
The biggest mistake is letting a sick child sleep in a warm room. This happens in 90% of cases! The air temperature should be 18-20 degrees at night (fresh but not cold); at a higher temperature, the air becomes dry, and the nostrils are blocked even more, and the cough intensifies.
So, no matter how optimistic you are, this winter, your children will get sick several times from viruses. The main medicine is time and warm care, and attitude towards the little ones.
The acute phase of the disease with fever, cough, sore throat, and runny nose is 3-7 days. Trust the child’s doctor and follow his instructions without overloading him with a lot of medicine, especially if the little one has no concomitant chronic diseases.
Give more fluids, fruits, and vegetables, teas, remedies from folk medicine. If the situation worsens, take the child again for examination.
